It's done! Germany has an official representative at the ESC 2022, and his name is Malik Harris. The 24-year-old enters the race with his song Rockstars.
In general, the ESC preliminary this year was also in a way under the motto "A little peace". The audience in the studio wore masks in the colors of Ukraine. In addition, flags were waved that showed the German flag on one side and the Ukrainian flag on the other. Particularly moving was the moment when Conchita Wurst, Gitte Haenning and Jane Comerfort sang Nicole's "Ein bißchen Frieden" and Jamala, the 2016 ESC winner from Ukraine, sang her song "1944".
Who is Malik Harris?
Malik Harris started the race with the starting number "1". Some might have thought this was a "bad omen". After all, the first ones tend to be remembered less? In this case, however, that did not prove to be the case. Malik managed to convince both the jury and the audience with his song.Rockstars" is about not always thinking about the "good old days", but instead realizing that every time is good. He plays several instruments and has also included a rap part in his song, among other things.
The 24-year-old comes from Landsberg am Lech and definitely has more than just one hit to offer. If you follow him a bit on the Internet, you will find several videos, some of them elaborately produced, that actually give you a "This could be something this year!" - feeling arise.
But one step at a time. One thing is certain: Malik has managed to prevail against five competitors. The rest will be revealed in May.
So far, Germany has been able to convince at the ESC now and then, but not always. While Lena, Nicole, Stefan Raab, Guildo Horn, Max Mutzke and Michael Schulte either made it to perfectly acceptable places or even to No. 1, things looked a bit bleaker in other years. Accordingly, it simply remains to be seen how well Malik can reach the masses with his "Rockstars".
ESC Preliminary round: Jamala with touching message
The performance of Ukrainian ESC winner Jamala may have brought tears not only to some people in the audience, but also to many viewers in front of the TV. Her greatest wish, she says, is for the war to stop. The artist had to flee the country with her children a few days ago. Her husband is still there.
She stressed singing for the children and for the women in her homeland. She wants all the world to hear the voices, she said. And she will be loud to show everyone that what is happening in Ukraine right now should not be like this.
Jamala's song "1944", with which she won the ESC back then, is tragically more topical than ever in the present day. It's about the deportation of people under Stalin. And you could also see how moved presenter Barbara Schöneberger was. An important moment at an event that perhaps managed to create a very special sense of community. Or, as Bülent Ceylan emphasized: music unites everyone... No matter what genre.